Shadow Play

Darlings, I never know what is going to emerge from the Island of Trials. That's how it works! It's always a bit of mystery what you'll see. You know it. I know it. And so does everyone watching the Trials. It's half the fun.

You can't possibly think to hold me responsible for the rather... persistent appearance of umbral Behemoths. I tell you, my beautiful babies, if I knew how to actually control what that island creates, I'd be running this city, not parked alongside it offering thrilling entertainment at prices anyone can afford.

I'm no aethersmith. As if you couldn't tell. But I've been around these skies once or twice and I know aether currents. Sometimes? Sometimes you just hit a rough patch of sky where nothing seems to go right. A Shrike off the port bow, Kharabaks swarming along in your wake, a lightning kiss from a surly Drask that takes down your mainmast and the captain's steward besides. You slay the hand you're dealt, so to speak.

That said... perhaps a lantern call to old Arkan wouldn't go amiss right now. A run of dark luck is one thing, but even I am starting to wonder if there isn't something more going on here. I'm not agreeing with him that my island—or indeed, this city—is still somehow linked to the Umbral Deeps. But I suppose I'm willing to be convinced.


 * —Lady Luck